Hotel indicator lock



Oct. l2, 1965 F. E. BEST 3,210,975

' HOTEL INDICATOR Loox Filed Dec. 16, 1963 /N VE N TOR.

United States Patent O 3,210,975 HOTEL INDICATOR LOCK Frank Ellison Best, P.O. Box 103, Indianapolis, Ind. Filed Dec. 16, 1963, Ser. No. 330,893 Claims. (Cl. 70--432) My invention pertains to pin-tumbler lock cores particularly adapted for lock-controlled assembly into door knobs, having hotel indicator means comprising a key plug having longitudinal holes therethrough accommodating sliding pins secured to a false face that can be actuated in and out by springs and remote means respectively, the said false face indicating to a maid, when in its out position, that the room is occupied.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. l is a vertical rear view of such a lock core in full relief.

FIG. 2 is a side view thereof in full relief, showing cutaway position of an actuator.

FIG. 3 is a vertical longitudinal axial section of the same.

FIG. 4 is a vertical face view thereof in full relief.

FIG. 5A is a horizontal longitudinal axial section of the same as taken on line SAB-SAB of FIG. 2 showing the indicator mechanism in retracted inactive position.

FIG. 5B is a horizontal longitudinal axial section of the same as taken on line 5AB5AB of FIG. 2 showing the indicator mechanism in extended active position.

FIG. 6 is a vertical transverse section thereof through pin-tumbler hole 41, body lug 36 and plug groove 39 as taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 3, with pin-tumbler means removed.

FIG. 7 is a vertical transverse section through pintumbler hole 41 as taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 3, `with pintumbler means removed.

FIG. 8 is a broken-away sketch showing a key in its relation to the false face.

Description The hotel indicator core 19 consists basically of a body 22, a plug 21, and a key stop 23, the plug 21 being rotatively free in body 22 but secured lengthwise by a head 3S on the face end thereof and a pair of rivets 33 through key stop 23 at the rear end thereof, said rivets 33 preferably being integral with plug 21.

Secured to the body 22, by a rivet 32 preferably integral with body 22, is an inner face plate 25 which, in turn, is secured to an outer face plate 24 as by induction brazing at 40.

The plug 21 has a false face 52, otherwise referred to as plug face 26, integrally joined to a pair of throw pins 50 at 48 as by induction brazing, said pins 50 and plug face 26, as an integral unit, being held in a retracted position by a pair of compression springs 49 coiled about throw pins 50 and retained in throw pin -holes 47 of plug 21.

The plug 21 is broached at 29 forming key-way 28 for the reception of various keys of the system, such as a master-control key and an operating key, both having different combinations cut into their respective blades corresponding to combinations of stacked tumbler pins 27 in pin holes 41, the separate combinations, however, sharing a single shearline 38.

3,210,975 Patented Oct. 12, 1965 ICE The pin tumblers 27, stacked in combinations in pin holes 41 held in an extended position by lsprings 30 forcing against pressed-in caps 31, complete core unit 19 which is releasably retained in a housing by projection 34 of key stop 23, the rotative motion of which is limited by an arcuate extension 43 of body 22, the upper and lower extremes thereof referred to as terminal 44 and terminal 45 respectively.

For insertion of core 19 into a prepared housing,` the master-control key is retracted one notch thus permitting the key to move past lug 36 of body 22 thus moving key stop projection 43 into a position against a terminal 44 and in alignment with core body extension 46, all as shown and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 329,527, iiled December 10, 1965, thus permitting insertion or retraction of said core. Return of projection 43 to a position which permits removal of the mastercontrol key leaves projection 43 out of alignment with body extension 46 and in engagement with a prepared surface in the housing not shown which secures core unit 19in said housing.

An operating key fully inserted in core 19 operates the core with clockwise movements but is prevented from left hand or control-key motion by the lug 36 on the body 22. Retraction of the operating key one notch reveals the lug 36 but also moves the pin stacks out of shear thus preventing operation of the lock.

' When a lock set mounted on a door is locked from the inside by a turn button, push button, or other such means 20, the throw pins 50 and plug face 26 as a unit in core 19 are thrust outward against the pressure of springs 49. The extended plug face 26 and key shoulder 54 prevent full insertion of key 53 and is likewise an indication that the door is locked from the inside.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a key-operated hotel indicator lock, the combination of elements comprising a key plug, an indicator opening in said key plug, an indicator rod therein, an indicator key plug face carried by said rod and moveable between two indicator positions and means adapted to the selective positioning of said face in each of said two indicator positions.

2. In a key-operated hotel indicator lock, the combination of elements comprising a key plug, an opening lengthwise of said plug, a rod therein, a spring communicating between said plug and said rod, an indicator key plug face carried by said rod and movable between two positions and means adapted to the selective positioning of said face in each of said two positions.

3. In hotel indicator lock means, the combination of elements comprising a key plug, a number of indicator openings therein lengthwise of said key plug indicator rods therein, spring means between said openings and said rods, a moveable key plug face carried by said rods, means adapted to the selective positioning of said face in each of two indicator positions.

4. In a key-operated hotel indicator lock, the combination of elements comprising a key plug, two counterbored indicator holes lengthwise of said key plug, two headed pins, each moveable lengthwise in one of said two indicator holes, a coiled compression spring around said pins underneath their said heads and nesting in said counterbored holes, and indicator key plug face carried by said rods and moveable lengthwise of said key plug between indicator positions and means adapted to the selective positioning of said face in each of said two indicator positions.

5. In a key-operated hotel indicator lock, the combination of elements comprising a key plug having a head of enlarged diameter at the front end thereof two indicator holes lengthwise of said key plug enlarged at the rear thereof forming counterbores, headed pins with their 10 heads at the rear moveable lengthwise in said holes, coiled compression springs round about said pins underneath the heads thereof and nested in said counterbore, a deep-drawn indicator plug face carried by said rods and telescoping said key plug head and means adapted to the selective positioning of said face in each of two indicator positions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,944,469 1/34 Schlage 70--438 2,293,856 8/42 Schlage 70--146 2,793,522 5/57 Tornoe 70-432 2,983,134 5/61 Russell et al. 70-146 3,125,876 3/64 Kuehler 70-146 3,128,618 4/64 De Vines 70-364 ALBERT H. KAMPE, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A KEY-OPERATED HOTEL INDICATOR LOCK, THE COMBINATION OF ELEMENTS COMPRISING A KEY PLUG, AN INDICATOR OPENING IN SAID KEY PLUG, AN INDICATOR ROD THEREIN AN INDICATOR KEY PLUG FACE CARRIED BY SAID ROD AND MOVEABLE BETWEEN TWO INDICATOR POSITIONS AND MEANS ADAPTED TO THE SELECTIVE POSITIONING OF SAID FACE IN EACH OF SAID TWO INDICATOR POSITIONS. 